Ground Control to USF

The Don Launches Social Networks in Cyberspace

04-27-2010

If you’ve ever felt the itch to track the University of San
Francisco’s events, news, and updates in a virtual instant, wait no longer. A growing
number of social media networks and a new mobile phone application make keeping
up with everything USF about as easy as switching on a computer.

Students, faculty, and staff – not to mention just about
anyone with a pining interest in the Green and Gold – can now find USF online
by become a fan of USF’s Facebook page.
On the fan page, Facebookers can reconnect with old friends and keep up with
news from The Hilltop. Or they can join USF’s alumnigroupon
Facebook and receive notices about upcoming events and reunions.

Professionals on the job hunt might choose to refresh their
résumé and close ranks with fellow Dons through USF’s Alumni Association LinkedInaccount. For instant updates on what’s
happening at USF, Tweeters can follow USF on Twitter. On USF’s YouTube
channel, viewers can watch video of families and students celebrating at
fall graduation or an interview with Slow Food Movement pioneer Alice Waters,
recipient of USF’s 2009 California Prize for Service and the Common Good.

The best part is that users don’t even need a computer to
get started. Students can double check their class schedule, One Card balance
and more using USFmobile, the
university’s new smart phone application, said Becky
Peters, ITS applications administrator and Web programmer.

“Social media platforms have a lot of members and cannot be
ignored as an additional tool to allow the university to keep in contact with
and grow its community connections,” said Thomas Listerman, USF e-communications
manager.

In fact, many, if not the majority, of USF students,
faculty, staff, and alumni already use some form of social media. So, there is
a big benefit to reaching them where they are and opening up a more direct
dialogue for them to provide feedback on university events and news, Listerman
said.

Today, USF’s social media networks have grown to about 10,500
people, mostly through USF’s Facebook page and LinkedIn.

This spring, USF launched “The Pool," providing
real-time updates by aggregating blog posts, tweets, photos, and videos
contributed by the USF community in one location. “It’s going to be a
minute-by-minute cyberspace snapshot of what is happening related to USF,”
Listerman said.

USFers can also look forward to a series of Q & As with faculty about
current affairs on Facebook and LinkedIn, Listerman said.